Thomas s



(No Model.) T. S. GARRISON.

BURIAL CASKET.

Patented Mar. 22,1898.

l I i garn'wm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. 'GARRISON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA;

BU RlAL-CASKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,037, dated March 22, 1898. Application filed Dficembeli 6| 1897. Serial No. 660,885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. GARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Caskets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of burialcaskets which have a detachable cover or lid; and it consists in certain novel devices which are applied to the casket and cover, whereby the cover is flexibly connected to the casket and permitting the cover to be drawn off horizontally and whereby the cover may be supported overhanging either side of the casket, as will be more fully described hereinafter and claimed. 1

When a corpse is laid out for viewing, it is desirable to attain a pleasing effect, which can seldom be done when a hinged cover is used, and if the cover is entirely detachable it must usually be placed where it proves an obstruction to the viewers. Therefore it is my object to provide means whereby the detachable cover may be readily drawn off horizontally to either side, as maybe most convenient, tilted over at an angle, so as to expose the under side, or allowed to hang down at the outside of the casket, the under side. being hidden. These objects are attained in my invention, which may be cheaply constructed and is simple, durable, and economical in use. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a casket having a cap upon the cover; D, the supporting-brackare made of any suitable material, as silkwoven into a flat tape or metal in the form of a chain, or it maybe a braided cord, and each end is provided with an eye-plate H, and it is rendered adjustable lengthwise by means of a f riction-buckle J suitably applied, or other suitable means may be employed for this purpose. A cleat G is suitably secured at the inner side of each end of both the casket and cover, and at the center thereof transversely it has a circular projecting stud provided with a T-head, over which the slot h may pass. At each end of the casket a link is applied, one end being connected to the cleat in the casket and the opposite end to the cleat in the cover. After the length of the link is adjusted to a casket further adjustment is not required. The plates H are adapted to move freely upon the stud and are retained by the T-head. Other suitable means by which the links may be attached may be employed, so that they may be preferably detachable and permit the link to shift to either side of the casket.

The supporting-brackets D are metallic and may be suitably covered with leather or fabric. .Each is universal in its application to either side or either end of the casket. It comprises a vertical plate having its upper end turned over to form a hook adapted to hang upon the top edge of the casket side, and its lower end hangs down against the outside of the casket. It is provided with a projecting lip' L, preferably above its lower end, upon which the cover B may be supported, as shown. 7 Each bracket is provided with a strap K or cord of suitable length to reach from the side to the center of the cover, to which it is suitably secured, so as to be readily detached. When not in use, the bracket is conveniently stowed in the folds of the interior. trimmings, and they are thus always within reach when required.

The supporting-leg F is preferably made of ignated as the top, has a slot M or suitable aperture, through which I pass a cord N, both ends of which are suitably secured at either side of the cover B, so that the leg may slip over it to either side of the cover that it may be required to support it, as shown, the lower end resting against the bottom molding on the casket, or when none is used a suitable rosette may be attached as a support. The upper end of the leg is in contact with the under side of the cover, the inner ledge of which prevents its slipping out. \Vhen not in use, the leg may be conveniently stowed u nder the lid in a clip behind the trimming.

My devices are equally adapted for any of the forms of caskets or coflinshavin g a detachable cover and are of great utility in preparing for an interment. hen finally closing and sealing the casket, the links, brackets, and leg may be detached and removed for subsequent use, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A burial-casket provided with a detachable coverhavin g at each innerenda centrallydisposed pivotal cleat, a pivotal cleat secured centrally at each inner end of said casket, a flexible link connecting said cover and said casket at each end thereof and providing that said cover may be drawn horizontally and laterally from over said casket to oy erhang either side thereof within the limit of the length of said links and retained thereby, and means by which the overhanging portion of said cover may be supported angularly, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a burial-casket, the combination of the casket provided with a cleat at each inside end thereof and secured in a transversely central position, the cover provided with a cleat at each end inside thereof and secured in a transversely central position, a flexible link at each end of said casket having its two ends connected to said cleats whereby a flexible connection is provided between said casket and its cover, a pair of portable brackets adapted to support an edge of said cover and to be hooked over the adjacent edge of said casket, and the adjustable leg whereby the outer edge of said cover may be supported when said casket is uncovered, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a burial-casket having a detachable cover, the combination of a flexible link at each end of said casket, one end of each link being pivotally secured at the inner side of the end of the casket at the transverse center thereof, and the opposite end of each link being pivotally secured at the inner side of the adjacent end of the cover at the transverse center thereof, permitting said cover to be drawn horizontally from above said casket to either side thereof but limiting its movement, and the portable brackets providin g a support for the lower edge of said cover, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a burial-casket, the combination of a detachable cover provided at the inner side of each end thereof with a central pivotal cleat, a pivotal cleat secured centrallyattheinnerside of each end of the casket, a flexible and longitudinally-adjustable link at each end of said casket, one end of each link being pivotally connected to the said cleat in the casket and the opposite end of each link being pivotally connected to the said cleat in the cover, the portable brackets providing a support for the lower edge of said cover when tilted over the side of said casket, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a burial-casket having a detachable cover, the combination of the centrally-disposed cleat at each inner end of the casket, the centrally-disposed cleat at each inner end of the cover, a longitudinal] y-ad j ustable link at each end of said casket coimecting said cleats pivotally whereby said cover may be moved within the limits of the length of said links over either side of said casket and retained in vertical positions, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS S. GARRISON.

Vitnesses:

E. T. SILvIUS, WM. II. PAYNE. 

